Big Ben offered to stay and run interference with the police officers that would take all of Francine's accomplices to jail. He wanted to leave Starsky and Mickey free to find their partner and brother.

Both desperately wanted to arrest Francine but were puzzled by her comments about Mickey being fine to someone apparently in the room with her. Was it Ken? Had he demanded to check on his sister?

It had been well over an hour since Francine left with Ken. Both Starsky and Mickey were frightened of finding what Francine had done to him. Mickey was biting her nails again, a habit she had dropped years ago.

Starsky was driving the car too fast and taking corners too fast; but Mickey was not complaining. It was about ten minutes later Starsky pulled up to the mansion, slamming the brakes and almost beating Mickey to the front door. It was unlocked, but they still proceeded with caution. A brief check of the first floor revealed no one. They raced upstairs to the second floor and began a room search. Near the end of the hall, Starsky pushed open the bedroom door. Mickey almost slammed into him.

"What is it? Starsky, where's Kenny?"

"Mickey, stay back and cover me. I'll let you know when it's safe to come in." Starsky didn't know what state Hutch was in and he wanted Mickey to hang back. Approaching the bed fearfully, he spotted the blond with blue eyes closed. A quick check of the master bathroom revealed nothing. "Hutch?"

The blond didn't move and Starsky bent down to check for a heartbeat in the bare chest, relieved when he found a slow and steady one. He flung the covers back to reveal green silk pajama bottoms on his partner. He rolled Hutch to the side, noticing fingernail scratches on his back. And he caught traces of lipstick around his face and chest.

Mickey raced in, unable to wait. "Did she . . . ?"

Starsky looked over to her. "Hutch seems to be sedated."

Mickey's face hardened. "That witch. Touching my brother . . . "

Starsky's face tightened. "What is this?" he asked, picking up a sticky jar.

"Honey," Mickey responded. "Good for lips that are chapped. I have used it."

Starsky frowned.

Mickey checked the dresser. "Here's one of the pictures she took of Kenny and me."

Starsky took the photo showing Ken and Mickey, dressed up, arms around each other with totally fake smiles. On the back he found a brief note that said, 'You are my children and I love you. Father'. He stuffed the pic in his pocket. "Let's get Hutch out of here."

"Wait, let me wash off her disgusting lipstick." Mickey went into the bathroom to get a wet cloth and said, "There's a note on the mirror. It says Francine's left."

"Don't know how I missed that," Starsky fumed. "No, Mickey, you can't wash it off now. This is a crime scene."

"Dave, I'm calling Joshua. He can examine Kenny." Mickey stepped out to the hallway to inform Joshua she and Ken had been liberated and gave him the address. She told him to bring his medical bag.

The relief in Joshua's voice upon hearing both she and Ken had been found brought tears to Mickey's eyes and she choked up, giving the phone to Starsky as she motioned downstairs and went to check the front door.

Starsky gave a brief description, telling Joshua that his brother gave into Francine's demands he become her lover to keep Mickey alive.

When Joshua questioned Starsky on whether Ken had slept with her; Starsky said grimly, "Looks like it."

Joshua said he could be there in ten minutes and thanked Starsky profusely for his help in rescuing his siblings.

Mickey led Big Ben up the stairs, he came as soon as possible for backup. He raised an eyebrow at Starsky questioningly and Starsky nodded grimly, jerking a quick glance towards Mickey and shaking his head.

"Mickey, could you go downstairs and wait for Joshua?" Big Ben asked. "Just yell if anyone else shows up; somehow I don't think they will if Francine left Ken here."

Mickey hesitated, then gave his hand a quick squeeze. "I love you, Kenny." She glanced back before taking the stairs down.

"I wish I could run him a bath," Starsky sighed.

"You know better," Big Ben said sharply. "We can't wash away what has happened or whether he even knows what happened. This is still a crime scene. He was kidnapped against his will."

"I just want to spare him this," Starsky said softly. "Mickey, too. She is so like Hutch and she will feel guilty."

Hutch stirred, his eyelashes moving briefly, but did not fully awake as both held their breath.

"I need to call Dobey and Hug," Starsky stated. "Big Ben, can you?"

"No need to ask. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone in the department this is where Ken was being held. I'll let Joshua get here first. Good man, Joshua."

"Yes, he is," Starsky agreed, going out to the hall. He had just finished talking to a relieved Huggy and Dobey when he heard Joshua's concerned voice. Joshua followed Mickey up the stairs and rushed to Ken's side.

"Mickey," he started.

Mickey sighed. "Just tell me you want me to stay downstairs, but don't keep anything from me. I didn't have a breakdown, Joshua."

"You could give Rosamond a run for her money. Sis, Ken may not want you to see . . ."

"Going," she responded and shut the door behind her.

Joshua had his medical bag with him and began to check his brother carefully. He took in the fingernail scratches on Ken's back, the redness of his neck. "The nail marks are not deep. It doesn't look like Francine York tried to hurt him. Mickey said she has red, curved talons."

"She put honey on his lips and probably hers. She sucked his neck," Joshua went on as unemotionally as he could. He directed Starsky to take pictures of Ken and the mirror and the pic of Mickey and Ken. "Mickey said York directed her goons to shoot Mickey and Ken offered to do anything to save her. He kissed and distracted her."

"He has that effect on women," Starsky agreed.

"He agreed to go with her," Big Ben said. "According to Mickey, York had her doctor give Ken a shot; a sedative or relaxant so he would not be able to tell where she was taking him."

Ken moaned, "No, Vanessa, no, don't tie me again. Don't give me Quaaludes. Stop." Ken's hands came up to push feebly at his ex-wife.

Starsky cursed, Big Ben cursed, and to their surprise, Joshua did as well.

Starsky picked up the silver tie from Ken's suit and another one under the bed and checked Hutch's wrists to see if Francine had tied him. The wrists were slightly red as if lightly tied.

Big Ben took a deep breath. "Joshua, we need to document . . . "

"I know, I know," Joshua snapped. "Starsky, remove the pajamas."

As Starsky did, Ben took pics and Starsky rolled his partner on his stomach and gasped.

"Nail marks on his hips," Joshua detailed. "Big Ben, from a police perspective what are we talking about here?" Joshua asked, dreading the answer.

Big Ben was glad Mickey was still downstairs. "Probable rape."

TBC